Posted on 08/26/2009 6:04:53 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
BREWER, Maine An estimated 450 people from throughout Maines 2nd Congressional District and beyond gathered in Brewer Tuesday night to give their elected representatives a piece of their minds.
The problem was U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud were no shows.
Instead the dozens of people who traveled from such places as Washington County, Casco, Saco, East Millinocket, Orrington, the St. John Valley, Bangor, and York County, had to make due by addressing blown up photographs of the three propped up against three empty chairs that had been reserved for them at the front of the room.
Tuesday nights gathering at Jeffs Catering in Brewer was organized by Paul Trommer of Bangor, who got the word out largely through e-mail invitations and other means of Internet networking.
This is about people feeling disenfranchised by their elected representatives, Trommer said just before the start of the event, which lasted at least two hours.
Our representatives are ducking us and not having any public meetings with their constituents. This has many folks not only concerned, but upset and angry, he said in his invitation, adding that the point of the session was to allow Mainers to express their views and concerns regarding their representatives actions in Wash-ington.
In his opening remarks, Trommer said he organized the town hall-style meeting because he was sick and tired of seeing people essentially being ignored by their congressional delegation.
This isnt a Republican event. This isnt a Democratic event. This is a people event, he said, adding that he didnt plan the event in conjunction with any particular political party and that he received no funding to host it. Jeff Ashey, owner of Jeffs Catering in Brewer, provided the use of his hall at no cost.
The anger and frustration in the room was almost palpable.
By the end of the more than two-hour event, an estimated 75 Mainers had stepped up to the podium to express their concerns, fears and desires regarding the political direction the United States is taking.
Topics Mainers sounded off about ran the gamut from unprecedented federal spending to increasing restrictions on gun ownership. Other issues addressed included plans to nationalize health care, the federal stimulus package, recent corporate bailouts, and the cash for clunkers program.
Chuck Sherman, who retired from General Electric, was angry about recent news that Social Security recipients likely wont see a cost of living increase for two years.
While the nations seniors will be doing without some of lifes basics, members of Congress are enjoying six-figure salaries, he said.
Im on a fixed income like a lot of you blue hairs out there, the Hampden man said, adding that the cost of his diabetes medication is increasing. So my fixed costs are rising and my income is decreasing.
With regard to federal spending, including the stimulus package, a registered nurse who only identified himself as Jake said, Stop spending my money and stop spending my childrens money, especially since there isnt a plan for paying it off.
Though Trommer initially planned to send recordings of the meeting to Collins, Michaud and Snowe, he said late Tuesday night that he might instead edit it and post it on YouTube.
If they will not listen to the people, then the people will make them listen, he said.
It was a fair article. But the reporter writes, ‘make due’.
Once again we are faced with a dearth of literate editors.
Now, pay up. Free ride times over. Done. Finished. Youse got a lot of debts, to me, and my Arab friends, my Wall Street friends, friends in government.
And. You. Must. Pay.
.... Or your kids. Makes no never mind to me. Now pay up."
Repeat often and everywhere at every chance.
"A "bust out" is a common tactic in the organized crime world where a business's assets and lines of credit are exploited and exhausted to the point of bankruptcy"
It’s like listening to people on the Titanic bitch about the deck chairs.
This is about people feeling disenfranchised by their elected representatives, ....
&&&
No, no, it’s about paid mobs. Aren’t you listening?
This was a great meeting and will be repeated until our MIA reps show up.
0bama/democRats’ biggest mistake to date
is NOT paying off the seniors for their
loyalty.
That’s gonna be the ONE thing that bites ‘em.
Good luck with that. Seems you are represented by “Real Cowards,” as opposed to Real Americans. If they don’t show up and do their jobs to meet with and hear the public...then the public should dock their pay for being absent!!! (Oh, if we only could. I suspect 95% of congress would be broke because on non-performance!)
The cowards are afraid to show up and hear what the voters say. This is a GREAT idea to keep the people informed and to keep spreading their voices to the press.
Play it every time the congresscritter is abstent.
Forget the photo, just put an empty suit in the chair and no one would have known the difference.
Naturally Snowe and Collins were not there. They had IMPORTANT things to do. With the limitless number of ignorant people in Maine, their re-elections are no doubt assured!
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